Zambia and Uganda Forge Partnership to Advance Poverty Reduction Strategies 

Zambia and Uganda have engaged in bilateral discussions aimed at sharing knowledge and implementing robust policy mechanisms to alleviate poverty within their respective nations.

Ms. Angela Kawandami, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services in Zambia, commended Uganda’s significant strides in poverty reduction during a bilateral meeting with Uganda’s Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Ms. Betty Amongi. 

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 62nd Session of the Commission for Social Development at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Ms. Kawandami praised Uganda for reducing poverty from 56 percent in 1996 to 20 percent presently, attributing this success to Uganda’s well-designed policies and effective implementation strategies. 

She expressed Zambia’s keen interest in learning from Uganda’s experience and understanding the mechanisms that facilitated such a remarkable achievement.

In response, Hon. Amongi highlighted Uganda’s approach to poverty reduction, emphasizing the importance of robust policy design and implementation. 

She explained that Uganda has focused on community-level programs, often implemented through cooperatives formed within local communities.

During the discussions, Ms. Kawandami and Hon. Amongi exchanged views on various initiatives aimed at improving the well-being of marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities, youths, children, women, and older persons. 

Additionally, the two sides explored programs aimed at empowering communities through cultural growth, skills development, and enhanced labor productivity, all while promoting gender equity, effective labor administration, social protection, and community transformation.

The meeting underscored the commitment of both Zambia and Uganda to collaborate closely in advancing poverty reduction efforts and promoting sustainable development initiatives that uplift communities and create opportunities for all citizens.

This statement was issued by Namatama Njekwa, the First Secretary of Press and Public Relations at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations.